VECO-union talks hit snag

CEBU, Philippines – The ongoing labor dispute between the management and labor union of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) has yet to be resolved as the union questioned the National Labor Relations Commission-7th Division for allegedly violating the assumption order of the labor secretary.

Casmero Mahilum, the president of VECO Employees Union-Associated Labor Union, said yesterday that the management retracted its previous offer for his retirement and other monetary benefits that were offered during the first day of mediation and conciliation last December 21.

Mahilum said that in yesterday’s mediation and conciliation at the NLRC-7th Division, they were already prepared with their counter-offer but it did not push through as management retracted its previous offer.

Such offer of the management, Mahilum said, was not recorded by the NLRC.

Mahilum said that he will file a motion to release his salary directly to him by the management.

Mahilum was reinstated in the VECO’s payroll upon the order of DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who issued an assumption order last November 10.

However, Mahilum lamented that VECO deposited his salary to NLRC and it will be NLRC who will release his salary.

“Pwerteng dugaya ang proseso before ma-release ang akong salary. Violation man na sa secretary ang ilang gibuhat. Ug ngano nisugot sad na ang NLRC. Mao nga mo-file mi og motion sa NLRC ugma,” Mahilum said. (FREEMAN)